Help with a dust collector

[dpb]

Spark wrote: ...

The one useful piece of data that could/would be interesting if they had it would be the rated CFM and inches of H20 for the unit; that would give you some info on what you'll have to use for ducting. Any of the real lightweight stuff might well get collapsed by that dude if its performance comes anyways close to matching its mechanical heft.

BTW, what's the size of those inlet ports? Looks like at least 6" if not 8"? For the size of stuff you've mentioned, I'd likely look at going to no more than a 5" trunk line and maybe even 4" as you're not going to have enough chips out of a 12" portable planer to make the cost of the large ductwork worth it (unless, of course, you're not particularly constrained in that regard). That's big enough capacity and large enough diameter that PVC would be a real static generator (it ain't agonna' explode, not raising that genie here :) ), but it'll surely be a shocker...and, if you've not yet priced it, you'll discover that large diameter ductwork is a pretty penny.

[Jack Stein]

Yes, thats pretty much the same as mine, except my ports are on the side, and I have multiple ports for multiple tools.

I suspect it's the reduced turbulence downstairs that keeps the

I think going from a small pipe to a large drum lets the air expand rapidly with reduced velocity, allowing the heavy stuff to fall down. The lighter stuff spins around and falls down because of the angled inlet. The very, very light dust particles will get sucked up to the fan and filter. I've never gotten anything in my filter other than powder about the consistency of flour. My collector has a metal filter that you simply take outside and wash out a couple times a year (in my case)

[Jack Stein]

If I lived in a warm climate, I'd put it outside. If it made too much noise for my neighbors, I'd insulate the box and buy a noise reducer from grizzly. I would not have the giant bag this guy had. In fact, I'd build a box with the fan in it, with it outside, I'd blow the little bit of fine dust right outside.

I'm obviously

When I built my system, I had not done much research, it was way before the internet, and the library seemed to have only collector info that would be used in steel mills and large industrial complexes. When I built mine, I didn't know if it would work at all, particularly with the HP, SP and all that stuff. My collector is a bit weak, with a small fan, small motor and stuff, but it works well, even though I run it through a bunch (5) 90° angles and long distances, into a pre-filter collection drum. If I had read that site that everyone seems to refer people to, I would not have built my system. A lot of guys sharpen their collective pencils and do the math, and come up with 100 hp systems with .0000001 micron filters, 10 inch metal pipes and on and on.

If I had your system, (Your fan and motor) I would put one port out to a central pre collection drum for my table saw, chop saw and basic vacuum hose. The other port I would hook up to my planer with a large pipe, at least 4", probably larger, but I'd try 4" first. I would think Planers pump out long spirals of wood, unlike saw dust, which could jam up small pipe. That would go to a large pre-collector drum, as planers will fill up a drum in a hurry. If your garage is small, and room an issue, one drum for all will do.

My suggestion is to use your imagination, and don't worry too much about what the "experts" say.

[TheBull]

replying to Spark, TheBull wrote: I have the same unit. Bought it new years ago for a cabinet shop. I too am looking for a users manual but only to calculate how high to mount it so that the cloth sock fits on the 55 gallon cardboard drum without floating. The machine is a workhorse. Both ports on the front are for hooking up separate lines for suction. If you want a collection basin to catch large pieces of wood then you should put one in the incoming lines but the impeller fans are pretty spread out so it would have to be a pretty big chunk to cause a problem. You would be much better off putting a screen over the inlet for a floor catch tray to avoid pushing anything large in to it.